Jehu with indefatigable diligence pursues his blow; and as he drives to Samaria, 1. He meets Jeho and the son of Rechah, a man of eminent piety, coming to congratulate him on his sacrifice, and to encourage him to perfect what he had begun. Jehu with all respect salutes him, and enquires if Jeho and his cause, as he reverenced and respected him. On receiving the warmest assurances of his good welfare, Jehu invites him into his chariot, that he may be convinced of his zeal in the Lord's cause; and by the guidance of so good a man, no doubt to gain the greater reputation to himself. Note, (1.) It is a question we need often put to ourselves and each other, Is time been right? upright and sincere in God's service. All profession of zeal without that, is but hypocrisy and design. (2.) Where good men's countenance to their cause is needful, great men will excise them; but their kisses are usually deceitful. (3.) Whenever there appears an outward fair profession of zeal for God, a good man cannot but charitably with success, and countenance the work. Hearts must be left to God's searching. (4.) They who heath of their zeal, give cause to suspect their sincerity. (5.) Many will appear to serve God, as long as their own interest is advanced thereby, whose zeal quickly cools when they can no longer serve themselves. 2. Having destroyed at Samaria all Ahab's friends and family, as he had done at Jezezel, he contrives how at a stroke to cut off the worshippers of Baal from the land. The design was good, but the lie which paved the way was evil; professing an uncommon zeal for the worship of Baal, which during Joram's reign, who had removed the image of Baal, might have been less public and solemn, he concoches all the priests and zealous worshippers of Baal to Samaria, to partake of a great sacrifice for interests to their God, threatening death to the man who should be found wanting. This collected a vast concourse, the gates of Baal's temple are open, the house thronged, and all the worshippers dressed for the solemn service; and now pretending zeal for the purity of the sacrifice, least any servants of Jeho and should have mingled with them, he orders hold hearts to be made. All things being ready, guards are placed at the avenues, that not a man may escape: every soul is malfaced in the temple, the building laid in ruins, the images burnt, and the worship of Baal for the time utterly exterminated. Note, (1.) The wisdom of the serpent may be lawfully used in the cause of God, provided none of the person of the serpent may give the mouth. (2.) The executioners of God's vengeance, more terrible than Jehu's guards, will shortly without mercy, execute their commission on every servant of iniquity. (3.) God's cause, though long oppressed, will rise victorious at the last; and when Jehu shall have cast the wicked into hell, then shall he reign over his faints gloriously. 29. ¶ Howbeit, from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, 'the golden calves that were in Beth-ah, and that were in Dan. 30. And the LORD said unto Jehu, 'Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall be on the throne of Israel. 31. But Jehu took no head to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart; for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin. 32. ¶ In those days the LORD began to ‡ cut Israel short: and Hazael became them in all the courts of Israel. 33. From Jordan, ¶ eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gables, and the Reubenites, and the Manafifters, from Aroer (which is by the river Arroan) even Gilead and Bethan. 34. Now the rest of the Acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 35. And Jehu slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria, and Jeho has his son resigned in his stead. 36. And the § time that Jehu resigned over Israel in Samaria, was twenty and eight years. ¶ And I do not know that the word of the word is to be a word of the word. I do not know that the word is to be a word of the word. I do not know that the word is to be a word of the word. I do not know that the word is to be a word of the word. I do not know that the word is to be a word of the word. I do not know that the word is to be a word of the word. I do not know that the word is to be a word of the word. Peace and plenty had for a time, with uninterrupted firearm, flowed in upon the pious Solomon: but when he exchanged his wisdom for folly, and his piety for profaneness, then the current of his mercies was stayed, and God began to afflict him. Sin and suffering go usually linked together. God stirred up adversaries against him, foreign and domestic, to avenge his quarrel, and to be a scourge for his sins. Note. The instruments God also, often mean only their own ambition, but he directs them to fulfil his purposes, and makes them subservient to his glory. 1. Hadad, an Edomite. He was of the seed royal, and had escaped from the general extirpation of Moab; which Joab, under David's reign, had attempted; v. 15, 16. Hadad was then a child, and a few of his servants rescued him by flight; and with guides, or baglives, like thenshines, from Paran, took refuge in Egypt; where, being kindly entertained by Pharaoh, he was in process of time, married to his wife's sister, greatly careful, v. 20. and nobly provided for. At the beginning of Solomon's reign, he longed to return to his native country, which Pharaoh, though with great reluctance, granted; there he seems to have continued in secret, engaging the people in his favour, till now Solomon's sin gave him an opportunity to declare himself; and though the mischief he did is not mentioned, he became, it is clear, a very troublesome neighbour, v. 25. Note. (1.) The weakest instruments in God's hands can soon grow strong enough to be our bitter scourge. (2.) Like Hadad, the believer, though enjoying every thing on earth his heart can with, yet sighs for home, and faith, O that I had wings like a dove, for then would I flee away to my eternal rest, in the bosom of Jesus. 2. Reason was another enemy; he escaped from the ruins of Zobah, when Hadadezer fell by the sword of David; and having collected as many as he could of the scattered forces, he became their captain; and now towards the end of Solomon's reign, when his wickedness made him weak, feating Damascus, he fixed there the seat of his kingdom. The remembrance of his former sufferings sharpened his refinement: he abhorred Solomon and Israel, and in concert with Hadad, continued to barracks and disturb them. Note. When God resolves to chastize, he will not want a rod. 26. ¶ And Jeroboam the son of Nekat, an Ephraim, the other of Zereda, Solomon's servant (whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow-woman) even the left up his hand against the king. 27. And this was the cause that he left up his hand against the king: Solomon built Milky, and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father. 28. And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon being the young man, that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph. 29. And it came to pass at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Abijah the Shilonite found him in the way: and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field. 30. And Abijah caught the new garment that was on him, and sent it in twelve pieces. 31. And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus faith the LORD the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee: 32. (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel) 33. Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Aftoneth the godless of the Zidonians, Chemoith the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which it right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father. 34. Howbeit, I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life, for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes: 35. But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes. 36. And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light always before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there. 37. And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireeth, eth,